About the book: year / Ari Thorgilsson, nicknamed “The Wise” (Ari inn fróði Þorgilsson, 1067–1148) is considered the founder of Icelandic historical literature and one of the fathers Icelandic literature in general. As Snorri Sturluson testifies of Ari: “He was the first person here in the country who wrote down the stories of ancient and modern times in the northern language.” Of course, judging by his surviving works, his talent was expressed more in historical research than in literary creativity, although his prose is transparent and adequate to his intentions. Regarding the facts of Icelandic history, the Ari's only source was oral tradition, i.e., eyewitness accounts. But nevertheless, Ari's prose deserves great confidence: in a time when many semi-historical traditions were in circulation, Ari does not accept anything without the best available evidence, which he usually cites.